Everton Cling on to Champions League Hopes with Steven Pienaar Strike vs. Fulham

The Champions League dream remains alive for Everton and manager David Moyes courtesy of Steven Pienaar's winning goal against Fulham.

The Merseyside club dominated against their West London opposition but could not breach the Fulham defence for a second time after the former South African international's 16th-minute strike.

After the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland last weekend, Everton supporters could have been forgiven for arriving at Goodison Park in a disheartened mood.

But that loss to the Black Cats represented just one defeat in a run of eight Premier League matches for Moyes' team.

The defeat on Wearside prompted the Everton boss to concede defeat in the race for a Top Four spot, and his team are dependent on results elsewhere going in their favour.

Emmerson Boyce's late own goal at the DW Stadium was of no help to either Wigan Athletic or Everton, as Tottenham salvaged a point just along the M58 from Merseyside.

Everton are now three points behind Spurs, having played a game more, and can slip further behind Arsenal and Chelsea, who are at home to Manchester United and Swansea respectively on Sunday.

However, these remain halcyon days for the Merseysiders, and the disappointment of missing out on theTtop Four can be offset by the fact that the team actually remain in the hunt with three matches left in the season.

Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was kept busy during the game and made some key saves from Kevin Mirallas, Marouane Fellaini and Ross Barkley.

Fellaini also missed an open goal which was harder to miss when he shot into the turf when a simple sidefoot would have sufficed for Everton's second.

Everton keeper Tim Howard had little to do, though, with the United States international a virtual spectator against a Fulham side shorn of Dimitar Berbatov to injury early in the game.

Moyes has vowed to decide his future at the end of the current season, but he can be rightly proud of his team and their efforts in recent weeks.

After the disastrous FA Cup quarterfinal home defeat to Wigan last month, Everton have responded with numerous improved performances across the pitch and a resilience which has seen the Blues maintain their position among the Champions League challengers.

If Moyes is to leave Goodison Park this summer, there is at least one barrier he can break to exit the club on a genuine high.

Standing in Everton's way next is their local rivals Liverpool. The Blues make the short trip across Stanley Park for the derby at Anfield next Sunday.

Moyes has never won a match at Anfield throughout his 11-year tenure, and he will be facing a team looking to take some solace from a frustrating campaign.

Finishing above the Reds for a second successive season with the help of three points at the home of their fiercest rivals could prove to be a highlight few Everton supporters will forget.